Grain separator



E. O. ROSS GRAIN SEPARATOR Aug. 2, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 27, 1958 'ig'.i.

m N w m fda/ard lz/en ,1Q 0 SS Aug. 2, 1960 Filed May 27, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR.

HI/fard dwen o s s Unite States Patent C) GRAIN SEPARATOR Edward Owen Ross, 1903 N. Lexington Blvd., Corpus Christi, Tex.

Filed May 27, 1958, Ser. No. 738,158

3 Claims. (Cl. 209-28) The `present invention relates to apparatus for separating grain from foreign matter and the invention more specifically pertains to grain cleaners or scalpers having particular utility for separating milo maize from stalk "particles, pulp, fodder, weeds or other foreign matter which often appear with milo maize grain.

Apparatus for cleaning or separating grain from foreign "matter usually includes one or more shaker screens onto which the grain to be cleaned is deposited and `air'currents are employed for removing the foreign 'matter which does not pass through the screen perforations. Some `of such devices include travelling brushes to remove the trashy material from perforations of the screens :and such apparatus functions well when the grain undergoing cleaning and the trash included therewith are `in -a dry condition. When the moisture content is high "in milo maize and when the grain also includes foreign matter it is difficult for the grain to move through the shaker screens. Milo maize when in a moist condition includes what is known as honey dew and other liquids or juice which have tacky characteristics and adhere to the screens and tend to obstruct the perforationsto such an extent that the efficiency of the apparatus is reduced. Thus existing types of cleaning apparatus yhavebeen found unsatisfactory for cleaning milo maize.

It is an object of the present invention to provide apparatus for separating `grain from foreign material and A'to thus clean the grain by avoiding the use of a screen rorfscreens and to provide a multitude of interfitting rotating discs onto which the grain and the foreign matter `is delivered with the discs located closely adjacent each "other Tto `prevent the passage of large particles of the `foreign matter or trash and to provide means rotating Vthe'discs so that the trash or foreign matter is engaged 'bythe peripheryof one or more discs and removed from "the `presence of the grain whereas the cleaned grain fall th'roilgh spaces between the interfitting discs and is thus separated from the trash or foreign matter. Another object of the invention is to provide apparatus 'foi removing foreign matter from grain wherein `a pluijality of rotating discs are driven to develop centrifugal force which acts on the foreign matter to deliver it `fro"rn `the path of movement of the grain and to provide "an air current in association with the rotating discs to remove small particles of foreign matter from the grain a's'i't moves in its path to a storage bin or the like.

vAnother object of the invention is to provide apparatus including a multitude of intertitting discs onto which the grain foreign matter is delivered with the discs so arranged asto providespaces therebetween of limited size 't'oprevent passage of the foreign matter while permitting -the grainto pass therethrough with the discs rotating -to"throw or deliver the foreign matter from the presence "ftlre grain and to provide an up draft of air between the -discs to Vassist in removing small particles Vof the foreign --matterwithethe air moving upwardly through the cleansed fgrain-and to provide means for varying the volume of air. Other objects and features of the invention will be fice appreciated and become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains as the present disclosure `proceeds and upon considera-tion of the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings wherein an exemplary embodiment of the invention is disclosed.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational View of grain cleaning apparatus exhibiting the invention with parts broken away to illustrate various features thereof.

Fig. 2 is a plan view with a portion of the `housing broken away to show the relationship of the interlitting rotating discs.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view showing the discharge opening for the foreign matter and with parts of the housing broken away to show portions of the air passages.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged elevational view of a mechanism for controlling the volume of air delivered by the fan.

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of one of the discs showing the serrations or teeth at the periphery thereof.

The invention is directed to apparatus for cleaning grain or the separation of foreign matter from grain and the structure includes a multitude of intertting rotary discs onto which the grain and foreign matter is delivered so that these materials are not deposited onto a flat surface and the :discs are of small thickness measured axially thereof so that the grain and the foreign material is not delivered onto any exposed surface of any appreciable extent for collecting tacky matter or material and the rotating discs tend to discharge any juice or other sticky material which may be included in the grain or trash particularly when moisture content of the grain to be cleaned is relatively high. The rotating interiitting discs assembly constitute an important feature of the invention.

Referring to the drawings there is shown at 10 a frame which may be constructed of angle iron or the like and on which other parts of the apparatus are mounted and supported as an operable assembly. The structural characteristics of the frame may be varied and a detailed description thereof is omitted. A housing indicated generally at 11 is attached to and supported by the frame 10. The housing 11 includes side walls 12 and end walls 16 and 17. A top cover 1S is provided for the housing 11.

VThe cover plate 18 and the side walls 12 may be formed of sections if desired to facilitate access to the interior thereof.

A feed hopper 19 having an open upper end is provided into which the grain with foreign matter intermingled therewith is delivered. This hopper includes an inclined Vbase which serves to deliver grain through an opening 21 into the housing 11. A plurality of diverging grid bars 22 (Fig. 2) are mounted on the lower inclined wall of the hopper 19 so as to spread the grain and the foreign material included therewith in a wide pattern as it is delivered through the horizontally elongated opening 21.

`A plurality of horizontally disposed shafts 23 are supported `by bearings 24 carried by the side walls 12. Each shaft 23 carries a multitude of discs 26. The discs 26 are secured to the respective shafts 23 so as to rotate `therewith. The discs on each shaft 23 are maintained in spacedrelationship by means of spacer elements 27. The

discs 26 carried by one shaft 23 are in staggered relationship with respect to the discs 26 carried by the next adjacent shaft so 'that peripheral portions of the discs interiit'each other as shown in Figs. l and 2. A sector of one disc extends between two discs on adjacent shafts and the peripheriesof all of the discs are in close proximity -to the circumference of the spacer element on the next adjacent shaft. T he spacer elements 27 are each 0f such a dimension measured axially thereof that the side or lateral faces of the intertting discs 26 provide small openings between the overlapping peripheral portions so as to prevent trash or foreign matter from moving `downwardly therethrough. These `openings between the side faces of the `interitting discs are large enough to permit the grain in a cleaned condition to pass therethrough. A Y

All shafts 23 are adapted to be rotated in clockwise direction in Fig. 1 so that all of the discs 26 rotate in a clockwise direction. Any suitable driving means may be provided for such purpose and a sprocket chain 25 mayy be trained about sprocket wheels one of which is secured to each Shaft 23. A power driven belt (not shown) may be trained about a pulley 30 'to drive the-discs 26 at such speeds as to impart centrifugal force to any foreign matter engaged by the peripheral portion of each disc. Each disc has a serrated peripheral edge or teeth at the circumference thereof as shown in Fig. and in an ernbodiment which has been found to be successful in use approximately two hundred and sixty-four teeth are provided on the periphery of each disc.

A plurality of ilexible deilectors 29 are provided in the housing 11 which may be supported by cross bars 35 or in any suitable manner. These deectors may be formed of canvas or other flexible material and are desirably supported in such a manner that the angle with respect to the vertical plane may be adjusted. The purpose of these adjustable baffles or deilectors will be appreciated as the disclosure proceeds.

A grain receiving bin is indicated generally at 31 and is supported on the frame 10. The upper end of the bin 31 has an area similar to the horizontal dimensions of the housing 11 and into which grain passing through spaces between the intertting discs moves is deposited. The bin 31 has an inclined rear wall 32 which directs ythe grain towards the forward end of the apparatus as it moves downwardly. The side walls 33 and 34 converge towards each other in proceeding downwardly as shown in Fig. 3. The front wall 36 of the bin 31 is in a -vertical plane and is substantially flush with the uprights of the associated portion of the frame 10.

A fan 37 of the centrifugal type is mounted on a subframe and supported by the frame under the bin 31 as shown in Fig. l. An impeller 38 (Fig. 4) of the fan is driven by means of a shaft 39 supported for rotation in bearings 41 supported on the sub-frame. An inlet opening 42 is provided for the fan and the outlet conduit therefor is indicated at 43. The volume of air admitted .to the fan through the inlet opening 42 may be adjusted and controlled by a damper in the form of a frustoconical element 44 which may be moved to the left in Fig. 4 so as to partly obstruct the opening 42 by means of a crank arm 46 and a shaft 47 which is threaded in one of the supporting brackets 48 for the damper control.

The discharge conduit 43 delivers air from the fan into a plenum chamber 49 which may be formed of sheet material which embraces a lower portion of the grain receiving bin 31. The housing providing the plenum chamber encases side portions of the lower part of the bin as shown in Figs. l and 3. Two openings S1 and 52 are provided in the housing so that air delivered by the fan into the plenum chamber may escape through both of these openings 51 and 52 into the bin 31. A baffle 53 (Fig. 1) is provided within the bin 31 for diverting the grain rearwardly as it falls therein so that this grain will not lind its way into the plenum chamber through the openings 51 and 52. The baffle 53 serves the further purpose of directing the air from the inlet openings 51 and 52 upwardly towards the rotating discs.

In order to avoid the escape of air delivered into the bin 31 by the fan 37 through a discharge outlet for the grain a rotating gate structure 56 (Fig. l) is provided at the lower end of the bin 31. This gate structure includes a plurality of radially disposed blades `57 having i outer ends which move in arcuate paths along the inner `to the trash or grain from adhering to the discs.

periphery of a substantially cylindrical wall 58. A shaft 61 is rotated slowly during operation of the apparatus so that the clean grain nding its way into the rotatable gate structure is delivered through an outlet opening 62 without permitting any substantial portion of the air under pressure within the bin 31 to escape therethrough with the clean grain.

When it is desired to clean grain the driving means (not shown) for all of the shafts 23 and the fan 37V and the shaft 61 of the gate structure is set in operation. Air delivered by the fan 37 moves upwardly in the bin 31 in the direction of the arrows 66 and passes between the discs 26. The grain with the trash or foreign matter therein from which it is to be separated is delivered into the hopper 19. The grain and the foreign matter is spread by `the grid bars 22 and is delivered into the housing 11 through the opening 21-in the` direction of the arrow 71 and onto the peripheries of the rotating Adiscs 26. Some of the grain drops through the spaces between the side faces of the first set of interfitting discs 26 and moves downwardly in opposition to the air currentl supplied upwardly from the bin 31. The rough peripheral edges of the discs 26 engage any pulp, fodder, trash, or the like and move this foreign matter circumferentially whereby centrifugal force is developed which throws the foreign matter upwardly and forwardly towards the de-A flectors 29. The trash may return to engage the peripheral edges of the next or succeeding set of rotative discs 26 and is thus moved towards the discharge outlet 67. Such action prevents any sticky or tacky substance carried The serrated edges Aor teeth engage or grip the trash to move it circumferentially whereby centrifugal force acts on the foreign matter to throw it forwardly and upwardly and such action is facilitated by the upward current of air moving from the bin 31 between the overlapping peripheries of the discs 26. Any grain adhering to the foreign matter is also thrown upwardly and forwardly by the action of the rapidly rotating discs. The exible deetors 29 serve to return the trash or foreign material onto the peripheries of the discs where it is again hurdled upwardly and forwardly to extract grain. The foreign matter is discharged through the outlet 67 and any chaff dust or lightweight materials which is not acted on by the rotating discs is carried through the outlet 67 by the air currents 4delivered by the fan 37.

While the invention has been shown and described with regard to particular structural arrangement and in connection with details of the various elements it will be appreciated that changes may be made in the overall organization as well as in the component parts. Such modiications and others may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. Apparatus for separating grain comprising, a plurality of horizontally disposed substantially parallel shafts, each shaft having a number of discs secured thereon in spaced relationship with peripheral portions of the discs carried by one shaft extending between peripheral portions of the discs carried by the next adjacent shaft, a housing encasing'said discs having a discharge opening therein, means for driving said shafts in the same direction of rotation with upper arcs thereof moving towards said opening, means for guiding grain to be cleaned onto the upper peripheries of said discs, bin means below the discs for receiving grain passing downwardly through spaces between the discs, means supplying air under pressure into said bin means for upward movement therefrom through the spaces between the discs, a rotatable door structure at the lower end of saidbin means receiving grain therefrom, and means for rotating said door strlcll'@ iQ discharge grain therethrough while preventing EJ! escape of air from said bin means through said door structure.

2. A grain separator comprising, a housing having a discharge outlet therein, a plurality of substantially parallel horizontally disposed shafts within said housing, each shaft having a plurality of discs secured thereon in spaced relationship with peripheral portions of the discs carried by one shaft extending between peripheral portions of the discs carried by the next adjacent shaft, means for driving said shafts in the same direction of rotation with upper arcs of movements towards said discharge outlet, means for guiding grain to be cleaned onto the upper peripheries of said discs, a bin below the discs for receiving grain passing downwardly through spaces between the discs, means for directing a current of air upwardly through the spaces between the discs, exible deectors supported at their upper portions on said housing, and each'deector having a free lower edge terminating above the upper arc of movement of said discs.

3. A grain separator comprising, a housing having a discharge outlet therein, a plurality of substantially parallel horizontally disposed shafts within said housing, each shaft having a plurality of dises secured thereon in spaced relationship with peripheral portions of the discs carried by one shaft extending between peripheral portions of the discs carried bythe next adjacent shaft, means for driving said shafts in the same direction of rotation with upper arcs of movements towards said discharge outlet, means for guiding a layer of grain to be cleaned onto the upper perpheries of said discs, a bin below the discs for receiving grain passing downwardly through spaces between the discs, and means for directing a current of air upwardly through the spaces between the discs.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 150,322 Hunter et al. Apr. 28, 1874 150,578 Hunter May 5, 1874 220,355 Dorsey Oct. 7, 1879 296,752 Hunter Apr. 15, 1884 836,869 Deaver Nov. 27, 1906 963,887 Freeze July 12, 1910 1,294,187 Steiner etal Feb. 11, 1919 2,055,630 McLean Sept. 29, 1936 v2,841,312 Bello July 1, 1958 FOREIGN PATENTS 118,121 Australia Feb. 9, 1944 

